Top 100 Women in Construction: Suzanne Moss

Meet Suzanne Moss, a Business Manager at Ringway in Milton Keynes, with a rich career spanning 30 years in the highways industry. As part of the Top 100 Most Influential Women in Construction Awards, we celebrate her remarkable journey and achievements.

Suzanne's role at Ringway is varied, where she manages Quality, Innovation, Performance Management, Communications, and Stakeholder Engagement functions. She takes pride in Ringway's involvement in the local community, helping to build strong relationships that enable employees to volunteer and make tangible contributions.

Suzanne's influence extends well beyond the day job. As a Senior Manager, Communications Lead, and member of the Vinci Women’s Network, she is a vocal advocate for women in construction. Suzanne mentors business graduates through the Vinci Group Graduate Scheme, sharing her extensive knowledge and experience.

Her commitment to social value in Milton Keynes has earned her a nomination in the Local Hero category, which celebrates exceptional women who make a real impact within their community. This is in recognition for her efforts in building partnerships with charities, supporting ex-offenders and providing work experience for students and individuals with additional needs.

Journey and achievements

Suzanne's path into construction was unplanned, but she quickly fell in love with the dynamic nature of her work. "I love the variation of working both in the office and being able to get out on site where I carry out compliance audits and see the fantastic work our crews deliver," she says. Her passion for inspiring young women to consider careers in highways is evident through her involvement with WorkTree, a charity that facilitates career guidance for young people. In 2024, Suzanne engaged with over 150 Year 10 students at a STEM event, inspiring future generations with the possibilities within the industry. "It was rewarding when so many enthusiastic students came over to chat to me at the end of the session with more questions.”

Her career is filled with proud moments, such as supporting the launch of new contracts and receiving accolades like making the 'Women Leader in Milton Keynes' shortlist, winning the 'Green World Ambassadors Award' for sustainability, and a Certificate of Recognition from the CEO of the Safety Centre in Milton Keynes for designing and implementing vital Safe Site Scenarios.

These honours highlight Suzanne's commitment to community engagement and safety in construction, showcasing the role women can play in the field. "Knowing that my work has been recognised by my colleagues who nominated me for the CITB Top 100 Women has to be one of my proudest moments yet," Suzanne shares. She looks forward to celebrating this milestone at the upcoming awards ceremony.

Challenges and advocacy

Suzanne reflects on the early days of her career when women were often undervalued and outdated stereotypes were rife. "When I started my career in the industry, women were not as recognised as we are now, with the assumption that our attendance at meetings was for administrative tasks," she says. However, thanks to the support of forward-thinking managers, she was encouraged to push boundaries and aim high. Today, she actively works to change perceptions among young people, many of whom have never considered a career in construction. Through apprentice fairs and outreach events, Suzanne showcases the diverse opportunities available in the industry, particularly for women.

Looking ahead

Suzanne's message to women considering a career in construction is clear: "Absolutely go for it! It is great to see so many female graduates come into the business in roles such as civil engineers, business graduates, electricians, and we have many women leaders in our business who may not realise how much they inspire and motivate others."

And what advice does she have for budding professionals? She emphasises the importance of confidence, continuous learning and seizing every opportunity. With many female graduates entering the field as engineers, business professionals and leaders, Suzanne sees a bright future where women not only contribute to but also lead the construction industry.